Gov. Ron DeSantis’s ban on school mask mandates is back in effect after an appeals court ruled in favor of the governor on Friday.
Cooper told the court before the ruling that because children under the age of 12 are unable to be vaccinated, a danger exists and other mitigations such as masking should be considered by school boards.
But appeals court judges said Friday they had “serious doubts” about the stay that Cooper vacated, citing concerns about standing, jurisdiction, and other threshold matters.
Christina Pushaw, the governor’s press secretary, celebrated the decision.
“The rule requiring ALL Florida school districts to protect parents’ rights to make choices about masking kids is BACK in effect!” she wrote on social media.
A group of parents filed the lawsuit last month on behalf of their children.
Charles Gallagher, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Epoch Times via email that “we are disappointed by the ruling of the 1st DCA that reinstates the stay and will be seeking pass through jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Florida since this matter involves statewide issues.”
“With a stay in place, students, parents and teachers are back in harm’s way,” he added.